Another article on the failure of the Slovakian school system for Rroma. And it is unfortunately true in many cases.
– Government failing to educate, integrate Roma children. In: Al Jazeera. 02.02.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/government-failing-educate-integrate-roma-children-170301171600351.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/government-failing-educate-integrate-roma-children-170301171600351.html”]
The former Slovak government Roma proxy, Peter Pollak, said that the current positive strategies being put forward by his successor Abel Ravasz will not work as long as discrimination remains the norm in the country.
This discrimination is prevalent also amongst the very people meant to implement positive steps towards Rroma.
– Roma proxy Ravasz: It’s futile to take positive steps when discrimination remains. In: The Slovak Spectator. 27.02.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20470466/roma-proxy-ravasz-its-futile-to-take-positive-steps-when-discrimination-remains.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20470466/roma-proxy-ravasz-its-futile-to-take-positive-steps-when-discrimination-remains.html”]
A Slovak action plans wants to reduce the disparities of the level of education between Rroma and the rest of the population as well as to improve the level of financial literacy (sic… and really?) amongst Rroma.
How about integrating Rroma in the regular school system instead of placing them in special schools?
– Ravasz chce lepšiu finančnú gramotnosť Rómov a rómske deti na SŠ. In: Školsky Servis. 22.02.2017. http://skolskyservis.teraz.sk/skolstvo/ravasz-chce-lepsiu-financnu-gramotnos/32792-clanok.html [link-preview url=”http://skolskyservis.teraz.sk/skolstvo/ravasz-chce-lepsiu-financnu-gramotnos/32792-clanok.html”]
The latest report from Amnesty International slams Slovakia for its treatment of Rroma – and a few others too.
SHAME.
– Amnsety International Slams Slovak Discrimination Against Rroma. In: Slovak Spectator. 23.02.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20467014/amnesty-international-slams-slovak-discrimination-against-roma.html
– Amnesty vytýka Slovensku Rómov a protiimigračný postoj. In: Spravy Pravda. 22.02.2017. http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/420816-amnesty-vytyka-slovensku-romov-a-protiimigracne-vyjadrenia/ [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20467014/amnesty-international-slams-slovak-discrimination-against-roma.html “]
A view from Slovakia on the integration of Rroma from the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities. According to him, integration is a local matter, and needs to be tackled at the lowest level.
While he definitively is right that integration happens at the lowest level, one needs a push from above to get things going…
– Integrácia Rómov je miestna záležitosť. In: Dennik. 17.02.2017. https://dennikn.sk/685353/integracia-romov-je-miestna-zalezitost/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/685353/integracia-romov-je-miestna-zalezitost/”]
Slovak officials have stopped Marian Markovič, a Rroma businessman from distributing food to homeless and disadvantaged people in Komarno. Official reason are food regulations.
One wonders …
– Slovakia: Romani businessman stopped from distributing food to the homeless by authorities. In: Romea.cz. 15.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-romani-businessman-stopped-from-distributing-food-to-the-homeless-by-authorities [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-romani-businessman-stopped-from-distributing-food-to-the-homeless-by-authorities”]
An excellent article about facts and fiction or alternative news in social media, but also in the politics in Slovakia. Rroma are increasingly the victims of such false news, and in Slovakia, even the prime minister Fico, is spreading those lies.
– Hoaxes ascend to mainstream politics. In: The Slovak Spectator. 16.02.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20457561/hoaxes-ascend-to-mainstream-politics.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20457561/hoaxes-ascend-to-mainstream-politics.html”]
A Slovak photograph ventured in the Osadas – The Rroma settlement that dot the Slovak landscape. These have a dreadful reputation. In the interview, the photographer speaks positively about the experience.
Look at the pictures …
– Fotí v rómskych osadách: Videli vo mne vzor. In: HN Online. 10.02.2017. http://hnonline.sk/slovensko/908567-foti-v-romskych-osadach-videli-vo-mne-vzor [link-preview url=”http://hnonline.sk/slovensko/908567-foti-v-romskych-osadach-videli-vo-mne-vzor”]
Did you know that if you are born into a poor family in Denmark or in Estonia, you have a good opportunity to achieve success in life regardless of ethnicity? But in Slovakia, it is very likely that you will remain poor and so will your children. Especially so if you are born in an Osada – a Rroma settlement.
This must change!
– Skúste si predstaviť, že sa narodíte do rómskej osady. In: Trend. 02.02.2017. http://www.etrend.sk/ekonomika/skuste-si-predstavit-ze-sa-narodite-do-romskej-osady.html [link-preview url=”http://www.etrend.sk/ekonomika/skuste-si-predstavit-ze-sa-narodite-do-romskej-osady.html”]
This story is so not typical of Slovakia that one almost asks oneself how is this possible. A private school in Bratislava wants to attract Rroma, especially disabled ones to the school. The school costs over 2’00 EUR per year, a sum which is beyond the reach of many Rroma families, and subsidies will be given …
– Na súkromné bratislavské gymnázium chcú prilákať Rómov, deti na vozíčku aj z chudobných rodín. In: Dennik. 01.02.2017. https://dennikn.sk/667891/na-sukromne-bratislavske-gymnazium-chcu-prilakat-romov-deti-na-vozicku-aj-z-chudobnych-rodin/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/667891/na-sukromne-bratislavske-gymnazium-chcu-prilakat-romov-deti-na-vozicku-aj-z-chudobnych-rodin/”]
The interview of a Rroma in Romea – and his statements on the Slovak prime minister Fico.
– Stano Daniel: Fico’s the “gypsy”, I am a Rom. In: Romea. 03.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/stano-daniel-fico-s-the-gypsy-i-am-a-rom [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/stano-daniel-fico-s-the-gypsy-i-am-a-rom”]
An extremist who posted racist views on Rroma and Hungarians and who was condemned in first instance to 40 months of prison appealed. He got two years on probation instead.
BAD …
– Extrémista na internete osočoval Rómov a Maďarov, dostal podmienku. In: Aktuality. 31.01.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/411809/revucan-na-internete-osocoval-romov-a-madarov-dnes-ho-odsudili/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/411809/revucan-na-internete-osocoval-romov-a-madarov-dnes-ho-odsudili/”]
An article on the recent statements from Fico, the Slovak Prime Minister and leader of the rightist Smer party is enjoying the Trump doctrine of natilonalism, and of course, using it to bash Rroma, who in his eyes and the ones of his followers, are anyhow alien and should vanish.
Shame!
– Fico vníma Trumpa ako šancu a útočí na Rómov. In: SME Domov. 04.02.2016. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20445398/fico-vnima-trumpa-ako-sancu-a-utoci-na-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20445398/fico-vnima-trumpa-ako-sancu-a-utoci-na-romov.html”]
A rather long article about Rroma criminality – Rroma offering goods on parking lots in Žilina. The article assumes the goods are stolen and states that Rroma trick people is selling gold and jewellery.
Seems to be a lot of assumptions and a long article for something like this … Well, this is Slovakia and Rroma do not have good press there.
– Skupina Rómov sa v Žiline vypytuje na cestu, ľuďom potom rozdáva elektroniku ako darček. In: Žilinak., 23.01.2017. https://www.zilinak.sk/prispevky/5629/skupina-romov-sa-v-ziline-vypytuje-na-cestu-ludjom-potom-rozdava-elektroniku-ako-darcek [link-preview url=”https://www.zilinak.sk/prispevky/5629/skupina-romov-sa-v-ziline-vypytuje-na-cestu-ludjom-potom-rozdava-elektroniku-ako-darcek”]
An article about the Rroma documentary about Holocaust and life under Communism largely based on testimonies of Rroma who lived through it.
– Documentary by young Roma records testimonies of their Elders. In: Slovak Spectator. 25.01.2017. http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20443005/documentary-by-young-roma-records-testimonies-of-their-elders.html [link-preview url=”http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20443005/documentary-by-young-roma-records-testimonies-of-their-elders.html”]
A long article on the forced sterilisations conducted in Czechoslovakia and then in the Czech and Slovak republics, until very recently. These sterilisations were solely motivated by eugenics.
No one has ever been convicted for such a crime, but they should.
– Racism’s cruelest cut: coercive sterilisation of Romani women and their fight for justice in the Czech Republic (1966-2016) In: Open Democracy. 24.01.2017. https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/bernard-rorke-marek-szilvasi/racisms-cruelest-cut-coercive-sterilization-of-roman [link-preview url=”https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/bernard-rorke-marek-szilvasi/racisms-cruelest-cut-coercive-sterilization-of-roman”]
An article and testimonies of Rroma and their lives in the 20th century in central Slovakia. Holocaust, life under communism, the fall of the Iron curtain.
– Rómovia spomínajú na 20. storočie: Gadžo bol mojej dcére za svedka. In: Spravy Pravda. 21.01.2017. http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/417444-romovia-spominaju-na-20-storocie-gadzo-bol-mojej-dcere-za-svedka/ [link-preview url=”http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/417444-romovia-spominaju-na-20-storocie-gadzo-bol-mojej-dcere-za-svedka/”]
A testimony of massacres of Rroma during World War Two in Slovakia. Rroma there were often accused to collaborate with the resistance and were therefore deported or simply executed. While this was true in some cases, in others, this was simply a pretext to kill Rroma.
The testimony here is about a massacre in the village of Čierneho Balog in central Slovakia.
– Neviem, kde sa vo mne tá odvaha nabrala. In: Dennik. 20.01.2017. https://dennikn.sk/blog/neviem-kde-sa-vo-mne-ta-odvaha-nabrala/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/blog/neviem-kde-sa-vo-mne-ta-odvaha-nabrala/”]
The recipients of this year Wallenberg price, named after the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in Hungary during World War Two were named. Among them there is a Rroma association, Chakra teachings of Moldava nad Bodvou. The aim of the association is to achieve integration through education.
Well done!
– Wallenbergovu cenu získalo aj slovenské rómske združenie. In: Aktuality. 17.01.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/407616/wallenbergovu-cenu-ziskalo-aj-slovenske-romske-zdruzenie/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/407616/wallenbergovu-cenu-ziskalo-aj-slovenske-romske-zdruzenie/”]
Smer, the party of the Slovak prime minister Fico remains popular among Rroma. A large part of the 33 Rroma mayors in the country are in Smer.
But, lately Fico has made statements at his party gathering in Prešov stating that Rroma abuse social help and claimed he would stop it, that one needs to send the police into Rroma settlements, and other repressive measures.
Bad that it too swings towards the hard line of the extreme right. Bad for the half million Rroma in that country.
– Smer je medzi Rómami populárny. Fico aj tak vytiahol v boji o voliča protirómsku kartu. In: Opoštova Banka. 15.01.2017. http://www.pluska.sk/plus-7-dni/domov/lukrativni-volici.html [link-preview url=”http://www.pluska.sk/plus-7-dni/domov/lukrativni-volici.html”]
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